Title: The Aesthetics of Waiting
Contents
If you go a little outside the big cities, you'll see beekeepers pitching tents and setting up their hives. There are cases where beginners stand around the hive and, when a bee gets inside or sticks to their body, they start running wild and struggle to get rid of the bee. But when I make such a fuss, I almost always get stung by bees and swell up. However, it is amazing to see the beekeeper trimming the beehive or picking honey. Sometimes I wear a net on my face, but sometimes I don't even use it. They don't rush in the slightest, and if a bee gets stuck on their hand or arm, they just leave it alone and get the job done. However, they are rarely stung by bees.
The same is true when it comes to living of faith. There are people who take the initiative in complaining, resentment, and riots when others want to be a little better or a little harmed to themselves. On the other hand, there are people who wait with resolute action as if it is not a big deal. However, with few exceptions, the end result in both cases is that it is better for those who wait patiently. This is because the attitude of those who wait patiently and patiently contains the confession that only God can do the work.
“My soul waits for the Lord more than a watchman waits for the morning; yea, more than a watchman waits for the morning” (Psalm 130:6).
We wait for our spouse to appear, for our prayers to be answered, for our rebellious children to mature, for jobs to appear, for our health to improve, for our conflicts to end, and for our release from economic pressures. Waiting is part of God's plan for us. Waiting for God's timing is patience. We learn patience through waiting.
If you look at the list of heroes of faith, it is full of people who have waited well. King David fled Saul and waited in the cave of Adullam. Moses waited 40 years in the wilderness before bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, and then spent another 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Even after losing everything he valued, Job waited for God. After waiting until old age, Elizabeth and Zacharias gave birth to a special child, John the Baptist. The apostle Paul wrote letters awaiting release from prison, which today form part of the New Testament. God also waited “until the time was fulfilled” to send Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world.
“But the LORD waits, that it may be gracious to you, and he will rise up to have mercy on you; for the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18).
The land of Israel is so calcareous that it hardens like cement without rain. It is the rainy season and the early rains make the hard soil soft so that farmers can plow their fields and sow seeds. No matter how hard the farmer works, the crop will not bear fruit unless it rains. So the farmer learns patience by waiting for the early rain and the latter rain.
Real patience is knowing that it is God's grace to bear fruit despite our hard work, realizing that it is not possible in our own strength and waiting with the faith that God will solve it. There are times when your heart is shaken when you wait. However, those who look to the Lord and believe in Him can endure before the Lord without being shaken to the end with a strong and firm heart. We know that there will be blessings if we keep our faith and persevere in the presence of the Lord no matter how unjust or difficult we face. So we can rest assured now. Life is easy when you know the end.
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently; let his way prosper, and let him not complain because of him who makes evil plans” (Psalm 37:7).
When a person becomes financially deprived, his heart is easily weakened and he loses his spiritual discernment. Because there is no bigger problem for humans than eating and living. When the Israelites entered Canaan, the manna that had fed them until now was cut off. Now they had to live on their own.
However, God said, "When the Israelites planted fruit after they entered the land of Canaan, they should not eat it as it is unfulfilled for three years." And in the 4th year, he tells me to give the fruit to God first. And he tells them to eat the fruit only in the fifth year. It was risking their lives to keep this commandment as the people of Israel who had nothing.
Sometimes we struggle with problems that are not answered even after long prayers. When prayers are not answered even after a year or two, we can't wait any longer and try to do it in a humane way, and sometimes get frustrated.
However, 'waiting' is the essence of God. God has long endured and protected us who betrayed Him countless times. When we remember this God and wait for God's time, God's promises will be fulfilled.